Brolo Carnival

A Carnival that brings color to the Tyrrhenian village

For decades, the Brolo Carnival has been the most anticipated winter event in the small town of Brolo, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea in the province of Messina. It is considered one of the most beautiful and heartfelt carnivals in Sicily: for a few days, the streets of the historic center fill with color, music, confetti, and massive allegorical floats parading between crowds of spectators.

The tradition of the Brolo float builders

The origins of the festival date back to the 1930s, when residents began wandering the town in handmade costumes. The real turning point came in the 1960s, thanks to engineer Ettore Salpietro, who, along with a group of young people, created the first allegorical floats. Since 1969, the tradition of the maccheronata has been a staple—a convivial moment where pasta is cooked and eaten together in the street, symbolizing the community spirit of the festival.

Today, the event is organized by the Associazione Carristi Carnevale Brolese, in collaboration with the Municipality of Brolo and numerous local associations. Every year, in the large float-builders' warehouse, six or more allegorical floats take shape, accompanied by dozens of masked groups from Brolo and the surrounding Nebrodi towns.

Masks and symbols of the Brolo Carnival

• Beppe Nappa (or Peppe Nappa), a Sicilian mask with 17th-century origins, featuring the characteristic blue outfit and white undershirt.
• Broliandolo, the modern nine-meter-tall mascot that has become a recognizable symbol of the festival.

A program for all ages

The Brolo Carnival is not just about parades: the calendar includes dance parties with live orchestras, the Children's Carnival with awards for the best costumes, the Family Carnival at the Parish Oratory, a masked lunch dedicated to seniors, and events for young people with music and DJs. It is a festival designed to involve the entire community, from the youngest to the grandparents, and to welcome visitors who reach Brolo every year from across the Messina Tyrrhenian coast.